A scam involving internet users is making the rounds, according to the Indiana State Police. They’ve gotten several reports of people receiving random tech support pop-up ads while surfing the web. The messages ask the user to call a telephone number to fix a problem with the machine and strongly suggest it be done immediately.
ISP officials say the person who answers the telephone may ask for money to be sent to them so you can download “their software,” or they may ask for your password and other information in order to gain remote access to your machine. Granting them such access leaves your computer vulnerable to the theft of sensitive data.
The ISP recommends never giving control of your computer to a third-party who calls you out of the blue or contacts you via popup message. Also, do not rely on caller ID to determine whether a call is legitimate, as criminals often spoof numbers to make it appear the call is originating from a reputable organization.
Never give your credit card or other financial information to someone who calls and claims to be from tech support, and do not give your password out over the telephone. The ISP stresses no legitimate organization calls or sends you a pop-up seeking your password. If you have any questions, call your computer security software company directly for assistance.
Anyone who paid for bogus charges via credit card can call the issuing bank and ask that the charges be reversed. Also, if you believe someone may have accessed your personal or financial information, visit the Federal Trade Commission identity theft website.
ISP officials note such scams typically occur when a computer is infected with adware or a potentially unwanted program. They are usually acquired when someone installs some type of free software with adware bundled into its installation.
